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Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, has called for the establishment of dedicated digital investment funds and sustainable financing mechanisms to accelerate digital learning and skills development across Africa.
The appeal was made during the 18th Ministerial Round Table on Digital Education, Training and Skills Development and the 19th eLearning Africa Conference, held in Accra, Ghana, from June 3 to 5, 2026.
The conference, jointly hosted by eLearning Africa and the Government of Ghana under the theme “Africa’s Time, Africa’s Terms: Learning for Sovereignty, Strength and Solidarity,” brought together more than 2,500 participants from 82 countries, including ministers, policymakers, university leaders, researchers, technology experts and education practitioners.
Representing Sierra Leone, Deputy Minister Aziz-Kamara delivered a keynote address on “Infrastructure and Finance for Digital Learning and Skills Development.” He highlighted Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts to expand digital transformation within universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, emphasizing that digital learning should go beyond technology adoption and serve as a catalyst for digital sovereignty, educational equity, workforce readiness and national resilience.
He stressed that Africa must invest strategically in digital infrastructure, learning platforms, locally relevant content and continuous professional development for educators. According to him, dedicated financing mechanisms are essential to strengthening digital literacy, promoting STEM education, preparing young people for artificial intelligence-driven economies and improving employment opportunities across the continent.
Sierra Leone’s participation at the high-level gathering reflected growing international recognition of the country’s education reforms, including the Free Quality School Education programme, ongoing digital initiatives in higher education and the leadership of Julius Maada Bio, who was recently named a Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Champion for Sustainable Education Financing.
Speaking at the event, Haruna Iddrisu called for stronger collaboration among African nations to advance digital education and skills development. He urged governments and institutions to leverage partnerships, shared experiences and global best practices in support of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and other continental development frameworks.
The conference also featured notable international figures, including Stefania Giannini, and concluded with a plenary debate challenging African countries to modernize education systems to better align with labour market demands and emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
The event reaffirmed Africa’s growing commitment to building resilient, technology-driven education systems capable of preparing the next generation for the opportunities and challenges of the digital age.
